Cooling tower



Dec. 25, 1956 J. F. SHELTON 2,775,310

COOLING TOWER Filed June 1, 1953. 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 66 we E Jack E Shelton ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1956 J. F. SHELTON 2,775,310

COOLING TOWER Filed June 1,1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jack E Shelton ATTORNEY United States Patent COOLING TOWER Jack F. Shelton, Memphis, Tenn.

Application June 1, 1953, Serial No. 353,683

.8 Claims. (01.183-26) This invention relates to heat exchangers and in particular to a forced pressure draft cooling tower.

In refrigeration and air conditioning apparatus it is common to employ a water cooled condensing unit for condensing refrigerant delivered from a compressor. In many instancesthe Water which is circulated through the condenser is itself cooled'after it leaves the condenser and re-circulated. Thus the amount of water used is held to a minimum and the cost of operation of the cooling plant is maintained at an economical level. The hereinafter described invention relates to a means for cooling the water (fluid) used in condensing units.

Such water coolers must in turn be compact in size and as a corollary efiicient in operation in order to keep their initial cost, installation and operation expense within reason. Furthermore it is necessary that such units be constructed so that they can be easily cleanedand serviced. -It is standard practice to clean cooling towers frequently owing to the amount of air that is drawn into the tower, etc. Dust will accumulate andform a muck inthe bottom which must be removed from time totime, and the inside of the towers must be painted every two years to prevent rust. Also the spraying heads and other apparatus must be cleaned and serviced.

It is accordinglyamong the objects of this invention to provide a cooling tower which is compact and efficient in operation, which can be easily installed, which can be easily servicedand conveniently cleaned and inspected.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mul-. tiple section cooling tower comprising an upper and lower section with powered apparatus mounted in the lower section and the cooling compartment enclosure provided in the upper section.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a cooling tower having a blower mounted in a lower section thereof with novel means for transmitting air delivered therefrom into a water reservoir in an upper section thereof.

Still another object oftthis invention is to provide a sectional cooling tower with means for preventing the transmission of vibrationfrom one section to another.

Also an object. of this invention is to provide a cooling tower having amain water reservoir and a fluid level control reservoir in communication therewith, thereby insuring proper fluid (water) control.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a means providing access to the tower proper for maintenance whichfunctions as a dividerfor dividing themain reservoir from the fluid level control reservoir and being removable to provide easy access to both reservoirs for cleaning and inspection.

In standard coolingtowers used today inspection doors are heldin position by screws, bolts and gaskets which .rust or corrode and which must be cut out from time to time to open the doorsand then replaced. Accordingly, the objects of this invention include the provision of an 2,775,310 Patented Dec. 25,

'ice

inspection door which cooperates with the tower proper in a way such as to insure an effective tight sealing fit yet with which bolts, nuts, and gaskets, etc., are not needed. According to the invention disclosed herein, there is provided an inspection door and .a reservoir divider which is maintained securely in operating position yet which can be easily removed. 7

A further object of this inventionis to provide ,a vertically positioned inspection door which can be held in a sealed closing relationship with a cooling tower by gravitational force.

To insure effective cooling action, the objects of this invention also include the provision of novel bafl'le means for directing the flow of air delivered by a blower so as to agitate the water maintained in thelfluid reservoir.

Other objects of the present invention include the provision of a low cost, easily installed, highly efficient, reliably-operating, easy to maintain forced draftcooling tower of a compact size.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following descriptionandzaccornpanying drawings in which: I

Figure 1 is a front elevational view, partly :insection showinga cooling tower constructedlin accordance with the invention and a condenser and compressor unit used therewith.

Figure 2 is a side .elevational view partly in section illustrating the cooling tower shown in Fig. .1. M

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of thezco'oling tower of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters in the several figures represent similar parts.

Referring now in particular tothe drawings, reference character it? designates a cooling tower constructedin accordance with the invention. The tower comprises a lower or base section 12 having a bottom 14, upstanding sides 16, 13,.20and 22, legs 24 and a service door 26. Service door 26 is mounted in front side 22 inany convenient manner.

A blower 28 having an upwardly directed discharge outlet 30 is mounted in the lower or base section by means of brackets 32. A motor 34 mounted on -the blower housing by flange 36 and mounting means 38, is connectedto the blower by belt 40. The rear portion of the blower housing merges with rearside 18 as at 42 to form a portion of the rear side of the lower section. The blower housing and rear side 18 can be fastened to each .other by any convenient means such as flanges, gaskets, etc. Grills suchas 44 and 46 are provided for the free admission of air to the blower.

Pump 48, motor Sti and conduits 52 and Mare also supported in the base section and serve to convey Water to cooling units and to the upper section of the cool ing tower hereinafter described.

Upper section 64) comprises a base 62 and spaced .vertically extending sides 64, 66,68 and 70. .Frontside 66 extends only a short distance abovelbase 62 and sides .64 and '70 are cut back as shown at'72 and 74 to provide sections 76 and 78 which are vertically coextensive with side 66. An upper bridging panel 80 connects the portions of sides 70 and 64 lyinga-bove sections 76 and '73. The bridging panel has an access opening l formed therein.

A panel or door 82 cooperates with bridging panel 8i} and sides 64, 68 and 70 to form antenclosure or cooling tower proper and normally is positioned to close opening 81. Panel 82 extends downwardly below the taken along line 5- 5 ,of

water level.

etc.

upper edges of side 66 and sections 76 and 78 but lies above base or bottom 62.

Upstanding sheets 84, 86 and 88 are atfixed to base 62 and rear side panel 68 so as to form a collar 90 with [said "rear side panel. As shown in Figures 1 and 2,

50 on bottom 14 the transmission of vibration is elimi- 'nated.

Collar 90, base 62, and sides 64, 66, 68 and 70 form a water reservoir in the bottom of upper section 60. When the reservoir is filled to the level shown panel 8.2 divides the reservoir into a main reservoir 96 and a fluid level control reservoir 98.

Reservoir 98 is, as shown in Fig. 2, outside the enclosure formed by sides 68, 70 and 64 and panel 82 and is open at the top. Thus, it and any equipment therein can be easily inspected without the removal of any panels or access doors.

Fluid level control reservoir 98 is provided with a water inlet pipe 100 having a cut-off valve 102 actuated by a float 104. Pipe 100 is connected to the water supply. By proper adjustment of valve 102 and float 104 the admission of water into the system can be controlled by the water level in reservoir 98. Overflow pipe 106 is also mounted in reservoir 98 to control the maximum Pipe 106 can be connected to the sewer,

Intake conduit 108 extends through base 62 and connects by means of flexible hose connector 110 to conduit 52. Screen 112 prevents the entrance of foreign matter into the cooling system.

Baifles 114, 116 and 118 extend outwardly from the rear side 68 and overlie collar 90 and discharge outlet 30 so as to intercept the air delivered by the blower and to prevent water inserted into the upper enclosure from falling into the blower. Baflles 114 and 118, in particular, direct the flow of air laterally of the collar and toward as well as downwardly into the main reservoir so as to force the water therein upwardly along the sides of the enclosure formed by panel 82 and sides 64, 68 and 70, and so as to keep the water therein in a state of agitation which facilitates the cooling thereof.

Flanges 120 and 122 are fastened on sides 70 and 64, respectively, and extend downwardly toward panel 82 in parallel spaced relationship. Wooden fillers 124 are mounted in vertically spaced relationship on flanges 128 and 122. Spacers 126 maintain the fillers in spaced relationship and bridging panel 80 maintains the group of fillers and spacers in vertical position.

By slanting flanges 120 and 122 downwardly toward inspection panel or door 82, inspection and removal of the individual fillers is facilitated.

Inlet pipe 130 is supported above the fillers and has laterally extending branch conduits 132, 134 provided with spray nozzles 136. The spray nozzles introduce the cooling fluid (water) into the cooling tower enclosure above the fillers.

The wooden fillers check the flow of Water from the spray heads. The water spreads over the surface of the fillers which are equally spaced. The water passes down between the fillers and the air passes upwardly between them. The pressure of the air, which is delivered in quantities of approximately 1600 cubic feet per minute in the-tower shown, flattens the water into a thin layer over the entire surface of the fillers. No part of the water delivered by the spray heads can fall to the bottom of the tower" without undergoing a constant scrubbing action in the fillers. After the air passes through the fillers it comes in direct contact with the water at the spray heads, and breaks the water up into a heavy mist which settles on the fillers.

Water eliminators 138 which may be formed of thin sheet material shaped as shown extend across the upper end of the tower enclosure below the upper edge 140. Spaced parallel supporting flanges 142 and 144 mounted on sides 70 and 64 provide vertical support for the eliminators. The eliminators can be fastened to side elements 70 and 64 by any convenient means. They are designed to separate the water from the air. A tortuous path in which the direction of movement of the air is reversed is provided by the eliminators.

The door or panel 82 of the tower enclosure or cornpartment cooperates or is hung in a unique manner. As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, bridging panel is provided with vertically extending recesses opening outwardly along each inner side thereof and a horizontal recess 152 opening outwardly thereof along its upper inner side and communicating with the two vertical recesses 150.

Recesses 150 are formed by inwardly extending leg 154 and outwardly extending leg 156 of panel 80. The latter leg extends angularly outwardly of leg 154 to a position approximately flush with the inner surface of panel 80 proper.

Recess 152 is formed by downwardly and inwardly projecting leg 158, vertical inner leg and outwardly and upwardly extending leg 162. Leg 162 extends parallel to leg 158 and leg 160 extends parallel to panel 80. Recesses 150 and 152 are connected at their adjacent ends to form a continuous outwardly opening recess extending around the perimeter of opening 81. Any Water in the recesses will drain into the reservoir. Leg 162 angles downwardly.

Removable panel 82 has an inwardly extending flange 164 along its vertical sides and a similar flange 166 along its upper sides. Flange 164 extends parallel to and in abutting relationship with leg 154. Flange 166 angles downwardly and extends parallel to and in abutting relationship with leg 162. Flanges 164 and 166 are connected at their adjacent edges to form a continuous flange adapted to be seated, as shown, in recess 150152. As clearly indicated in the drawings, panel or door 82 will remain in its normally closed position (illustrated) Without the need of any fastening devices, since gravitational force alone will maintain the panel in normal position with the panel supported by leg 162. Also it is apparent that no gaskets or similar sealing means are needed to provide a tight fit between panel 80 and door 82 because of the construction of the cooperating recesses and flanges. Lifting handles 168 are provided for lifting and removing panel 82 which lifting and removal can be easily accomplished. It is pointed out that a cover can be provided for the fluid level control reservoir 98 if desired. Such a cover could be hingedly or otherwise attached to panel 80, 82 or side 66.

Figure 1 further illustrates a conduit 170 connected by flexible hose 1'72 to pump outlet conduit 54 and which leads to inlet 174 of water cooled condenser 176. The outlet 178 of condenser 176 is connected by conduit 180 to spray inlet 130. The condenser is shown to be associated with a compressor 182 and motor 184 forming part of a cooling system.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of my invention, it will be understood that variations in details of form may be made without departure from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cooling tower comprising a lower section, a blower including means forming a discharge outlet therefor, an upper section supported on said lower section,

means forming a collar in said upper section, said collar surrounding said'discharge outlet, a vibration dampening gasket interposedand supported between said collar and r said dischargeoutlet, said collar being open at its upper end, saidupper section having a bottom and sides upstanding therefrom forming together with said collar a water reservoir, a removable panel extending substantially vertically across said upper section inwardlyof at least one of said sides and cooperating with the other of said sides to form an enclosure for baflies and fluid spray nozzles and dividing said reservoir, when said reservoir is filled with fluid to a normal level, into a main reservoir, and a fluid level control reservoir in communication therewith, fluid level control means mounted in the last named reservoir, said panel having portions projecting outwardly at an angle thereto adjacent the perimeter thereof re ceived within means forming a recess connected withthe other of said sides and Opening outwardly of said e'nclosure, bafiles mounted in said enclosureabove said collar for directing the flow of air delivered by said blower downwardly into 'said reservoir, spaced filler elements extending across said enclosure above said baifles and providing passageways for air delivered by said blower, fluid spray nozzles mounted above said filler elements, fluid eliminators mounted above said spray nozzles and providing passageways for the exit of air from said enclosure, and a pump for supplying liquid from at least one of said reservoirs to said spray nozzles.

2. A cooling tower comprising a base section having a blower mounted therein with an upwardly directed discharge outlet, an upper section supported on said base section and having a collar surrounding said discharge outlet, a reservoir in said upper section formed in part by said collar, a baflle mounted in said upper section positioned and formed to direct the flow of air received from said discharge outlet downwardly into said reservoir, a panel normally positioned in said upper section to shield a portion of said reservoir from said flow of air when said reservoir is filled with liquid to a normal level, said upper section having an access opening normally closed by said panel, means forming a recess extending around the perimeter of said access opening, said panel having a flange received in said recess, said flange resting on at least a portion of said means forming said recess and supporting said panel in the normal position, said panel being removable for access to all of said reservoir, said panel being maintained in normal position by gravitational forces only.

3. A cooling tower comprising a substantially vertically extending enclosure having a base and upwardly extending sides, means forming an opening for directing air through said enclosure comprising additional upstanding elements, said elements and said sides forming a fluid reservoir with said base, a baffle extending inwardly of said enclosure into the normal path of movement of said air from said opening and formed to direct said air into said fluid reservoir, and a panel forming a part of said enclosure and shielding a portion of said reservoir from movement of said air as normally directed by said baffle when said reservoir is filled to a normal level with a fluid, said enclosure having an access opening normally closed by said panel, means forming a recess extending around the perimeter of said access opening, said panel having a flange received on said recess, said flange resting on at least a portion of said means forming said recess and supporting said panel in normal position.

4. A cooling tower comprising a substantially vertically extending enclosure having a base and upwardly extending sides, means forming an opening for directing air through said enclosure comprising additional upstanding elements, said elements and said sides forming a fluid reservoir with said base, a batfle extending inwardly of said enclosure into the normal path of movement of said air from said opening and formed to direct said air into said fluid reservoir, a panel forming a part of said enclosure and shielding a portion of said reservoir from movement of said air as normally directed by said baflie when said reservoir is filled to a normal level with a fluid, and

means mounted in the shielded portion of said reservoir for maintaining the fluid level in saidreservoir at a nor- 'mal level including a supply pipe having a fluid level operated shut off valve, and an overflow pipeand a spray nozzle mounted adjacent the top of said tower, means for moving water from said reservoir to said spraynozzle, said baflle being positioned below said spray nozzle and being adapted to receive water therefrom, said baflle being formedto direct said water into said reservoir laterally of the flow of air out of said opening and. along said baflle.

A cooling tower comprising an enclosure including a base, upwardly extending sides, and having a reservoir formed in the bottom thereof, means for directing air upwardly into said enclosure and downwardly into said reservoir, means formingpart of said enclosure and extending partially into said reservoir to prevent the passage of said air into a portion thereof when said reservoir has a normal amount of liquid therein, said last named means being removable to provide access to said enclosure and comprising a panel, means forminga recess in said enclosure, said panel having a flange received in said recess, said flange resting on at least a portion of said means forming said recess and supporting said panel in position to form a part of said enclosure and in a position in which said panel extends partially into said reservoir.

6. A cooling tower comprising a lower section, a blower including means forming a discharge outlet therefor, an upper section supported on said lower section, means forming a collar in said upper section, said collar surrounding said discharge outlet and being open at its upper end, said upper section having a base and side members, upstanding therefrom forming a reservoir with said collar, a removable panel extending across said upper section and cooperating with said side members to form an enclosure for a batfle and a fluid spray nozzle, said panel dividing said reservoir, when said reservoir is filled with liquid to a normal level, into a main reservoir and a fluid level control reservoir in communication therewith, fluid level control means mounted in the last named reservoir, said panel having portions projecting outwardly at an angle thereto received within means forming a recess connected with said side members and said recess opening outwardly of said enclosure, a baflle mounted in said enclosure above said collar for directing the flow of air delivered by said blower over the water in said reservoir, filler elements extending across said enclosure above said battle, a spray nozzle mounted above said filler elements, said filler elements forming passageways for air delivered by said blower and water delivered from said nozzles, fluid eliminators mounted above said nozzle providing passageways for the exit of air, and a pump for supplying liquid from at least one of said reservoirs to said spray nozzle.

7. A cooling tower comprising a lower section having a blower mounted therein, an upper section resting on said lower section, means for directing the discharge of air from said blower into said upper section including a discharge outlet, said upper section being formed by a base member and side members, spaced upstanding members connected to said base member and cooperating with one of said side members to form a collar, said collar receiving said discharge outlet for receiving air from said blower, said upstanding members, said base member and said side members forming a water reservoir, baflle means connected to said upper section and extending horizontally therein over said collar and above said outlet, said baflle means extending completely across said collar and outwardly of the sides of said collar, said baflle means serving to intercept the air delivered through said outlet immediately above said collar and to confine and direct said air horizontally into said upper section and downwardly into said reservoir, spray nozzles mounted above said baffle for spraying water into said upper section above said baifle means,

said baffle means normally receiving said water upon the top thereof and directing said water longitudinally in said upper section and then downwardly across the air directed into said upper section by said bafile means as the air leaves the confinement of the said baffle means.

8. A cooling tower comprising a substantially vertically extending enclosure having a base and upwardly extending sides, spaced upstanding elements connected to said base and forming a collar for receiving air with one of said sides, a blower mounted in said tower for forcing'air through said collar, said spaced upstanding members, said sides and said base forming a fluid reservoir, a baffie means connected to said enclosure and extending laterally over said upstanding elements, said baffle means having edges spaced from the others of said sides, said balfie means extending beyond the sides of said collar, said baflle means serving to intercept the air delivered through said collar immediately above said collar and to confine and direct said air horizontally into said enclosure and downwardly into said reservoir, spray nozzles mounted above said baflie means for spraying water into said enclosure above said bafile means, said bafile means normally receiving said water upon its top and directing said water horizontally in said enclosure and then downwardly across the air directed into said enclosure by said bafile means as the air leaves the confinement of the said bafile means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,192,862 Eagley Mar. 5, 1940 2,311,155 Carr Feb. 16, 1943 2,325,692 Maddox Aug. 3, 1943 2,360,981 Rupp Oct. 24, 1944 2,384,016 Dishner Sept. 4, 1945 2,514,631 Elvers July 11, 1950 2,620,722 Owens Dec. 9, 1952 2,656,780 Spieth Oct. 27, 1953 2,661,936 De Vilbiss Dec. 8,, 195.3 

